Scouting Report

Considering what Swanigan accomplished this season at Purdue, the time seems right for him to make the jump to the NBA after two years. However, the versatile forward left the door open late for a return to the Boilermakers before deciding he was ready to turn pro. Nicknamed "Biggie," Swanigan certainly had good reason to leave West Lafayette after earning All-America and Big Ten player of the year honors for averaging 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a sophomore for the regular-season league champions. He started all 69 games at Purdue, was a Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy finalist and took home the Pete Newell Award as the nation's top player as recognized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. His 28 double-doubles this season were the most in Big Ten history and 13th-most ever in the NCAA. The Indianapolis native then further slimmed down his frame to make himself more attractive to NBA teams, one of which will likely grab him in the early or middle part of the second round. However, Swanigan's frame remains a red flag for some scouts who believe his weight could fluctuate at the next level. Then there are those defensive inefficiencies that appear to be keeping him out of the first round. His footwork on the perimeter and positioning to challenge at the rim must improve, and he can also be taken advantage of when switching off his man to another. On the offensive end, scouts would like to see Swanigan expand his shot selection - even though he made 44.7 percent of his attempts from 3-point range this season - and not rely only on his physical ability to reach the basket.